The Xiaomi Watch S3 is an reasonably priced smartwatch with a extremely customizable look that features swappable bezels. It may monitor your well being, health, and sleep, convey telephone notifications to your wrist, and final a number of days between expenses. The draw back? It runs Xiaomi’s software program, which feels a bit primary, and you’ll overlook about third-party apps.
Closing in on a month with the Xiaomi Watch S3, I’m impressed by its monitoring capabilities, contemplating the comparatively low worth, and the changeable bezels are a neat concept. However I’m additionally tremendous with saying goodbye to it. The Watch S3 has too many limitations for me, nevertheless it’s necessary to keep in mind that this machine is lower than half the worth of essentially the most reasonably priced possibility in our best smartwatches information.
Earlier than we dig in, it’s value noting that there’s a international model of the Xiaomi Watch S3, nevertheless it’s not bought within the US, there is no official US help, and sure options (like NFC for funds) fluctuate by area.
Smartwatch Chameleon
{Photograph}: Simon Hill
For folk who wish to match their watch with their outfit, the Xiaomi Watch S3 has a novel trick up its sleeve within the form of interchangeable bezels. Altering the strap on a watch might be impactful, however with the ability to change each the strap and bezel virtually makes it appear to be a totally totally different machine.
The Watch S3 has fairly a chunky 47-mm aluminum case with angled lugs and two buttons on the fitting. A stainless-steel bezel sits on prime of the display, and you’ll rotate it to take away and change it with a distinct bezel. It’s straightforward when you get the dangle, and there’s a wee marker on the within that can assist you align. The bezels slot into place securely, and I by no means apprehensive about them coming unfastened.
Connect a brand new bezel and the Watch S3 suggests an identical watch face. It is a neat trick. There are greater than 100 watch faces in each conceivable type, and you’ll even create your personal. Altering the strap can be simple, so you may shortly change your look. My favourite of the straps and bezels Xiaomi despatched was the stylish inexperienced and black combo. You get one black or silver bezel with an identical fluororubber strap with the Watch S3, and alternate options should be bought individually.
The 1.43-inch AMOLED display has a layer of protecting Corning glass. The show is roomy and crisp, however the comparatively low peak brightness of 600 nits (a luminance measurement) meant it was typically exhausting to learn in direct daylight. The Watch S3 can be 5ATM rated for water resistance, that means you may swim with it.
{Photograph}: Simon Hill
Streamlined for Stamina
The Xiaomi Watch S3 focuses on the fundamentals with name and notification alerts out of your telephone; well being, health, and sleep monitoring; and a handful of utilities like a voice recorder, digicam shutter management, and compass. It runs HyperOS, so there are not any third-party apps like you’ll find on a Google Put on OS smartwatch.
Navigating across the Watch S3 is slick and lag-free. HyperOS just isn’t essentially the most engaging software program and lacks a cohesive design, with a mixture of uninteresting and garish icons. However it principally labored effectively, except for the odd missed notification from my telephone. It connects by way of Bluetooth 5.2, and you should utilize it with any telephone working Android 8 or iOS 12 or later. I examined with the Xiaomi 14 Extremely.
